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Group of Five: Week 11 Access Bowl Power Rankings

By Zach Bigalke

Nov 9, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Toledo Rockets running back Kareem Hunt (3) rushes the ball against the Northern Illinois Huskies during the first half at Guaranteed Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 9, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Toledo Rockets running back Kareem Hunt (3) rushes the ball against the Northern Illinois Huskies during the first half at Guaranteed Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 15, 2016; Akron, OH, USA; Western Michigan Broncos running back Jarvion Franklin (31) runs the ball during the third quarter in the game against the Akron Zips at InfoCision Stadium. Western Michigan Broncos won 41-0. Mandatory Credit: Jason Mowry-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 15, 2016; Akron, OH, USA; Western Michigan Broncos running back Jarvion Franklin (31) runs the ball during the third quarter in the game against the Akron Zips at InfoCision Stadium. Western Michigan Broncos won 41-0. Mandatory Credit: Jason Mowry-USA TODAY Sports /

Western Michigan just kept rolling last week, becoming the first team in 2016 to reach 10 wins when they took down Kent State on the road in Tuesday night #MACtion. The Broncos had both Jarvion Franklin and Fabian Johnson rush for at least 125 yards and a score apiece. The ground game carried the day, as Zach Terrell was held to 83 passing yards on the day. The WMU defense came through big, holding the Golden Flashes under 300 total yards of offense and holding the hosts to less than 25 minutes with the ball.

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The path is clear for P.J. Fleck’s team to claim the Access Bowl slot into this year’s Cotton Bowl and possibly even more. All WMU has to do is knock off Buffalo and Toledo to win the MAC West for the first time since 2000. In Detroit, the Broncos would be favored against either Ohio or Miami in the MAC championship game. A 13-0 Group of Five team isn’t guaranteed to play in a New Year’s Six game, as final record is but one part of the equation. While a 12-1 Mountain West champ would also have a case, Western Michigan has the inside track to a major bowl game.

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